Ronda Palazzari Designs

Pinterest Perfect! plus Giveaway!

So very excited to tell you about a new book called Pinterest Perfect! from Walter Foster Publishing.  In this book you will find many inspiring step-by-step projects from various artists including yours truly!  Pinterest Perfect! will be released tomorrow, May 1st, but you can always pre-order the book now!

I love this description from Walter Foster: "Pinterest is one of the fastest-growing social media sites on the Internet – especially among creative professionals and arts & crafts enthusiasts. Beautifully designed to emulate the clean, elegant aesthetic Pinterest users recognize and love, Pinterest Perfect! features the artwork, projects, and inspirational designs of talented artists and crafters, each of whom enjoys a sizeable fan base in the digital space and elsewhere."

"Filled with step-by-step projects, tutorials, art tips, and crafting techniques on everything from drawing, painting, and illustration to mixed media, typography, and papercrafts, each featured artist shares her unique art style with readers in an interactive and engaging format."

"Each section features a brief introduction to the artist, followed by four to six easy-to-follow, step-by-step projects and/or art techniques. Open practice pages at the end of each section invite readers to brainstorm, sketch, and collect inspiration for their own artistic projects. In addition, useful sidebars throughout the book share tips for using Pinterest efficiently and effectively as a hobbyist and professional artist. Sidebar topics include creating a virtual artist morgue, collaborating with others on community boards, using boards to promote a business or share a portfolio, and much more. One part inspiration, one part how-to, and filled to the brim with color, inspiration, and beautiful artwork, Pinterest Perfect! is the picture-perfect visual resource for any artist, crafter, or creative Pinterest enthusiast."

I have a Pinterest Perfect! book & an uber cool blank journal to giveaway today! I am also throwing in a stencil to complete this collection.  Would you like to own it before it goes on sale?  Well Pin-it to Win-it!  Simply Pin the book image from above to one of your pinterest boards and let me know by leaving a comment on this blog post.  You have until Midnight Mountain time, Tuesday, May 6th to be entered and i will announce the winner on Friday May 9th.  

Pin-it to Win-it!

 

 

 

Create Daily: The Palette Knife

i think there are some essential tools that make creating easier and well, more fun.  One tool that i seem to grab over and over again is a palette knife.  A palette knife is a blunt tool that is a slightly flexible (has a little bend to it) blade and can come in multiple shapes, sizes, and styles.  They can be made out of plastic or steel.  i have some of each.  Here's a small sampling of how i use them in my art daily.

i often use my palette knife to add paints to my palette.  Seems obvious but sometimes we forget how useful it is to not only add paints to the palette but also mix colors too.  i have some jar paints and will dip my palette knife into them to pull out some paints making sure i completely clean my knife so i don't cross-contaminate my colors.  

i often, very often, use a palette knife to spread gesso on my backgrounds whether it is a canvas, art journal page, or a tag.  i find the uneven texture very pleasing.  It also allows me to leave open parts that create different textures.  Scraping the gesso with a palette knife also feels like frosting a cake, something very pleasing to me. 

The uneven spreading of the gesso using a palette knife created the different tones in the  background blues & greys of this art journal page.  See another previous example below along with the video tutorial.  

i will also use a palette knife to push mediums like molding/modeling paste, matte/gloss gel, gesso, or heavy gesso through my stencils to create texture.  The flexible palette knife gives me enough pressure to scrape through the stencil without being too rigid.  

i also apply paint directly to paper/canvas with the palette knife.  i like that scraped look to the paint when it's applied this way.  it's also a great way to apply left over paint to your art journal pages like the one pictured above.  

In the video you can see how i spread the gesso around the background to create that uneven texture.  Here's the page too. 

You don't have to invest in a metal palette knife to start.  i have a cheap set of plastic ones that sit in a small mason jar on my desk.  Try them out and see how often you reach for these handy little tools! 

 

Winter 2014: Wildflowers & Ripples

I am continuing to debut my new Ronda Palazzari Designs/The Crafter's Workshop stencils.  I am so excited to share with you these new releases, including 14 new stencils & 10 brand new "Ronda's Fragments."  These new little masks pack a punch, perfect for art journaling, gelli prints, tags, project life, scrapbooking, cards, & much much more.  i have been working hard to bring you creative inspiration along with new videos!  Today's
stencils are Wildflowers (TCW 433) and Ripples (TCW 431). 

Wildflowers is quite possibly my favorite stencil from this release.  Of course i reserve the right to change my mind.  These hand-drawn beauties remind me of hiking in the Rocky Mountains to stumble aross beautiful meadows full of wildflowers mixed in with green foliage.  There is something magical about it, peaceful & serene so i couldn't resist drawing them out for a stencil. 

These wildflowers look great in both the 12x12" larger size and 6x6" petite size.  

This stencil looks great on cards, tags, mixed media pieces, and of course a layout.  i used both sizes on the layout of the same name.  i painted the watercolor on the background first and then added the larger flowers using some Caran d'Arche NeoColorII.  i added the little purple flowers using Ranger Archival inks and a blending tool.  

Have you ever touched the water just to see how many ripples are made with one single poke?   It reminds me of childhood and playing with my brothers and sisters around the pond near our house.  Just like those beautiful childhood memories, Ripples brings a lot of fun & beauty to any project.  It is one of those great background stencils in many different ways and create beautiful motifs.  

How adorable is the Ripples stencil in the 6x6" size?  The 12x12" size has great open spaces that are begging to be filled with color & design.  

i used the 12x12" stencil on this Courage layout with some of Wendy Vecchi's clear embossing paste and some gold star glitter found in Cocoa Daisy's April kit.  Once it was dry, i added watercolors to make the in-between stand out.  Totally love how it turned out and will be doing that again.  

So very excited to tell you about a new book called Pinterest Perfect! from Walter Foster Publishing.  In this book you will find many inspiring step-by-step projects from various artists including yours truly!  More details coming early next week along with an awesome giveaway.  Pinterest Perfect! will be released on May 1st first but you can always pre-order the book now!

Happy Friday Everyone!

 

PS: Only a couple seats left in the Art of Pen Pals online class that begins in May.  Jump in and get back to the beautiful art of letter writing!

Create Daily: Exploring

 With life shifting around me, i have felt the pull, the need to journal more.  i have also noticed that with each class i take at the Art Student League, that my style evolves.  i am completely ok with those subtle or sometimes dramatic changes in creativity.  Exploring your style and the types of art you want to create all make up who you are.  Nothing in art should be limiting.  

i love this page i created for OLW's word up this month, Adventure.  This page started with me exploring writing with a caligraphy pen with some india ink that i blended with GAC-100 to make it more permanent.  i know india ink is permanent but when you wipe paint over it, it still has a tendency to bleed a bit.  i have been exploring & playing around with being looser with my creations and leaving the white i crave.

i do create daily but have felt the need for more day to day journaling, including dating each time.  i have been exploring what that will look like but still wanting it to look like me.   i started by exploring a two page spread like the one above.  i began by adding random images around the page trusting it would all come together some way.  i actually was adding more to page 2 than to page 1, working my journaling in a grid-like pattern.  i liked it a lot.  i saw that quote on pinterest and knew immediately that it was what i needed to finish off page 1. 

Still exploring with journaling everyday in a different way.  i had created the painted background with the door previously.  i decided to explore what journaling would look like on a limited image page.  i really like the days of the week titles.  i blocked off as i went with my hand carved stamps and hand drawn doodles.  

i can see myself still exploring, finding things i really like and things i want to try out.  i know that i will probably have solid pages with random thoughts journaling as well as the day to day entries.  

 

 

InLinkz.com

a Day at the DAM

Last weekend Alexi & i went to the Denver Art Museum, affectionately known as the DAM.  i have been slowly doing "outings" since all the illness and a small trip to the museum seemed doable, especially with a big long nap after.  She had to go for her Art class she is taking at college which just excites me.  It was a great time together as she knows my needs right now.  We also got to compare & contrast our likes as well as talk about the pieces in detail.  

The art muesum often has new exhibits and this latest one was a dream come true to me, Modern Masters: 20th Century Icons from the Albright-Knox Art Gallery.  Be still my beating heart.  Van Gogh, Gauguin, Kadinsky, Pollack, Kline, Stills, de Kooning, Motherwell, Rothko, sigh.  i have to say Alexi & I are quite diverse in our tastes.  it really made me laugh.  Despite our difference we we able to enjoy the afternoon together exploring & talking about art.  We aren't allowed to take photos in the exhibit so i purchased a book with lots of wonderful photos of the pieces.  Alexi even used it in her paper for class.  

After spending much time in the Modern Masters, we only went through a few other exhibits/halls at the Denver Art Museum. I was able to take photos in these exhibits. Here are a few that drew me in. These are a recent addition to the exhibit, Epic, drawings by Jospeh Stashkevetch. They are incredible & huge!  

The details on these are incredible.  They looked like photographs until closer inspection.  The lines of the charcoal are beautiful, the way they capture the light & dark.  You really do look like you are looking over the edge in the above piece.  Alexi and i were fascinated by these.  

This is one of my favorite paintings found in the Western Art section of the museum. Unfortunately i don't know the name of it. It is so striking, bright colors on a black background. The brushstokes are fascinating and beautiful.  

Another favorite of mine. The layers of paint to make up this mostly white & black painting is incredible. There is more than meets the eye, with layers of color under the white that make it beautiful.  

Stephen Hannock's Mount Blanca with Ute Creek at Dawn is a mixed media piece, although just a quick glance at it does not seem so. But step up and inspect it closer and you can see all kinds of things in the piece.

including pages from the Lorax

and notes about his late wife.  it is truly a piece that deserves a second look. 

This installation piece of sorts is quite intriguing. i really like how this and her other pieces are arranged. i love the strings hanging down as much as the art in the frames. Annette Messager has a few pieces in this collection and they are equally as cool.

Create Daily: Typography

i have such a love of typography, the art of arranging type in pleasing ways.  That's a simple definition to such a broad art that touches every day of our lives.  It's a great way to add another layer of design to whatever project you are working on.  Here are some fun typography designs found in my "the art of typography" pinterest board to inspire you to create daily.

Hugo Werner -Source

Think strips, think printed material in your art journal or on your art pieces.

Lucy Stephens - Source

Love how she uses the font to become the city.  

Typo/Graphic Posters - Source

A beautiful grid design that splashes a word in the whole design.  

Steph Baxter - Source

Absolutely adore this and she has many others.  I think it's a brilliant way to write out recipes.  

Arleigh - Source

My friend arleigh is so very brilliant.  i love this example how the type becomes the portrait.

How do you use typography in your creative life?

 

Winter 2014: CityGrid & Skyline Stencils

I am continuing to debut my new Ronda Palazzari Designs/The Crafter's Workshop stencils.  I am so excited to share with you these new releases, including 14 new stencils & 10 brand new "Ronda's Fragments."  These new little masks pack a punch, perfect for art journaling, gelli prints, tags, project life, scrapbooking, cards, & much much more.  i have been working hard to bring you creative inspiration along with new videos!  Today's stencils are CityGrid (TCW 438) and Skyline (TCW 436). 

 

The wandering in me loves maps in all shapes & sizes.   CityGrid is like one of those great city street maps you find in all your favorite towns.  But this stencil isn't just limited to travel, City Grid makes a great back drop to any page with those fun little shapes in all different sizes.

Both sizes give you such fun options.  On the left tag is the 12x12 stencil using Wendy Vecchi's metallic gold embossing paste over a background.  On the right is the 6x6 stencil in fun heavy body acrylic paints.  

On this "Time" art journal page i used the 6x6 stencil with heavy gel.  I love the way it looks layered over the collaged background.  I added all kinds of paints, acrylic inks, and india ink to the page letting them run through the stenciled area.  

On this layout i used the 12x12 CityGrid to make this eye popping background.  I love the blue & white background set against these pictures of Anthony.  This stencil really goes with anything and i am having lots of fun creating with it!

Skyline is very similar to Urban Landscape with its detail & shadowed portions.  Back when Urban Landscape was released, some West Coast people asked for some of their iconic buidlings.  I am sure you could spot a few of those skyscrappers along with a few others from across the globe.

Both sizes are so much fun to use.  The top tag is the 12x12 size with some Viva Decor Ferro Special Effect Paste.  The bttom tag is the 6x6 stencil with Wendy Vecchi's Metallic Silver Embossing Paste.  Fun, Fun, Fun!

 

On my Beauty & Blessings Art Journal page, i wanted to have that ghosted city background echoing things changing in my life.  i created it by using the 6x6 stencil with some molding paste & black acrylic paint through the stencil.  Before it set too much, i scraped off some of the buildings leaving that ghosted image.  

Grab the above badge and show me how you want to be stenciled in.  My Stencils are currently being sold online and at brick & mortar stores.  Have you created some projects with my stencils? Add them to my flickr pool, tag me on twitter, facebook, instagram, you can also use #rondapalazzaristencils.  

Have you heard the news?  The Crafter's Workshop is having a design team call!  Go check out this blog post for more details!